First of all: Set your priorities right. Acknowledge the fact that you don't have to be a Staff Member to help. Yes, you will not get recognition to be completely honest, but the recognition that matters is yours.
For either path you choose, there are universal guidelines:
Applying as a moderator without experience will not get you accepted. It doesn't has to be official experience, rather, on what you submit as your application, it has to show that you know what is it that you are talking about. MCGamer is not going to accept someone who doesn't knows the rules by heart —unless they're some eloquent mofo.
Get in-game, and be in The Hub for hours. Answer to the players' questions. However, never say you are a mod. If someone asks a question and there is no one to answer, introduce yourself with the following cue: "I am not a Moderator, but maybe I can help you?". That is how it should be, and that is the proper way of the so hideous and untolerated Mini-modding.
Talking about Mini-modding: Don't let a tag define you. Everyone, what may your position be has the same goal; to help. If you are taking initiative on things, do not get yourself bashed, and impose the rules on them, with the allegations of feeling harassed. However, for each side, Staff or not, patience should be a quality and arguments shouldn't be continued for the sake of not breaking any rules or ending with a bad reputation.
Grammar is universal.
Wherever you go, you will need to have good use of English. For those who are foreign, do not feel discouraged: Practice makes perfect. I myself am foreign, so I serve as the faith for those who wouldn't believe in themselves, if so you would prefer.
The red name isn't as big as we think it is.
It isn't. Despite the red tag shows recognition and validation and certainty of the rules or player support, still help players. If you can live without the recognition, or recognition coming from 3rd-party players, then you are a loyal and honest. But if you can't live, you shouldn't even be part of Staff. Why? Because if your "mighty" is going to come of a silly tag that comes and goes, then you should reevaluate yourself first instead of being selfless.
Being Staff isn't just a "Oh I'm gonna apply and hope to be accepted and answer to player reports", it is more than that. It is a path were you have to be psychologically prepared; and its the same for those who decided to not commit to the position and help through your own methods. People are mean, and that is what you should be prepared for. The coldest is the winner.
Oh and, not following the hierarchy of this article anymore, I will refute something some people believe: Does word count raises our chances of becoming staff? No, and will never. I was denied when I applied because of my age at the time, however my application was barely 600 words. Hope that serves as an example. Staff least's concern is age: they first review the application, then see whether they have the requirements asked beforehand applying.
That is my guide. That is what you should focus before applying or even when deciding to no longer apply for staff.
